Written Answers Friday 29 May 2009

Scottish Executive

Antisocial Behaviour

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-21139 by Fergus Ewing on 4 March 2009, when it will introduce legislative or other measures to deal with neighbour disputes about high hedges and what those measures will be.

Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government had a very productive meeting with Scothedge, the organisation which seeks to secure legislation on this issue in Scotland, on 2 April 2009. I wrote to the Public Petitions Committee on 23 April to provide its members with an update and a copy of the note of the meeting’s outcomes, which had been agreed with Scothedge. My letter and the meeting note can be viewed on the Parliament’s website at www.scottish.parliament.uk , under Written Submissions for Petition PE984.

  In order to build a consensus around the most appropriate course of action, we plan to launch a public consultation on the issue in the summer. Details of this will be published on the Scottish Government website and MSPs, MPs, members of the public and others with an interest will be invited to participate in the consultation process.

Child Protection

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it identifies children who are living with a drug or alcohol addicted parent.

Adam Ingram: Getting it right for every child is at the heart of the Scottish Government’s approach to children affected by parental substance misuse. Under this approach we would expect local authorities, health boards and other community planning partners with a duty to protect children to undertake risk assessment which is case-sensitive and built around the needs of the individual child.

Child Protection

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children there are on the child protection register.

Adam Ingram: The number of children on child protection registers in Scotland is published annually by the Scottish Government.

  The latest statistics for the number of children on child protection registers (as at 31 March 2008) can be found in Table 7 of the Statistical Publication Notice published on 24 September 2008 http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00685.

Child Protection

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children on the child protection register are living with drug or alcohol addicted parents.

Adam Ingram: At 31 March 2008, there were 2,437 children on child protection registers across Scotland. These are children where a multi-agency case conference deemed specific risks to the child required registration. Numbers of children who live with drug or alcohol addicted parents are not separately identified, as children at risk are often affected by a range of potential threats. There are many more children affected by parental substance misuse, and automatically registering them all would potentially dilute the support to children in high-risk situations. Risk assessment for vulnerable children is a complex process, and research shows that a ‘tick-box’ approach is not effective.

Child Protection

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider establishing a cross-governmental working group on the issue of children living with substance-abusing parents.

Adam Ingram: In developing chapter five of the national drugs strategy The Road to Recovery , which deals with children affected by parental substance misuse, the Scottish Government convened a number of short-life working groups in order to establish the right priorities and ground our approach in what worked. Following the launch of the strategy, we have brought together a Project Board – including representatives from national government, local government and the voluntary sector – to drive forward implementation of this agenda.

Child Protection

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is information sharing across government, support services and criminal justice agencies regarding the identification of children living with substance-abusing parents.

Adam Ingram: In the context of Getting it right for every child , which is at the heart of the Scottish Government’s approach to children affected by parental substance misuse, information is shared across all relevant service areas. Information sharing will be improved through the developing eCare framework as well as the Cabinet Secretary for Education’s announcement earlier this year of additional funding for the vulnerable persons system, a dedicated police IT system designed to enable the electronic sharing of police-held information across forces, and in due course across agencies.

Child Protection

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether children’s plans kept by local authorities include an assessment of the number of children in each area with substance-abusing parents.

Adam Ingram: There is no statutory requirement for local authorities to collate information on the number of children affected by parental substance misuse (CAPSM) in their area. At national level, Getting it Right for Every Child is at the heart of the Scottish Government’s approach to CAPSM. Under this approach we would expect local authorities, health boards and other community planning partners with a duty to protect children to undertake risk assessment which is case sensitive and built around the individual needs of the child.

  We are aware that significant work is being undertaken at a local level to learn more about the prevalence and needs of CAPSM children.

Child Protection

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether adult addiction services gather and share information with child protection services to safeguard and support children living with drug or alcohol addicted parents.

Adam Ingram: Getting it right for every child is at the heart of the Scottish Government’s approach to children affected by parental substance misuse. Under this approach we would expect all community planning partners with a duty to protect children to work together effectively where there are concerns about a child. Such effective joint working would include gathering and sharing relevant information across service areas.

Child Protection

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it gathers best-practice information on referral and assessment systems for children affected by parental drug or alcohol abuse.

Adam Ingram: We have a strong network of 30 Child Protection Committees covering the whole of Scotland to co-ordinate action on the ground between the different agencies who need to be involved in protecting and supporting children. We are embedding the learning from the ground-breaking first round of multi-agency-based child protection inspections, and working with partners across the sector to refocus and refresh the national child protection guidance of 1998. A strong relationship has been established between child protection practitioners and the Scottish Government so that constructive discussions can take place about improvements in service provision. We also continue to provide support (around £1 million in 2009-10) to the Lloyds TSB Partnership Drugs Initiative, a strategic funding programme supporting work with children affected by substance misuse which also undertakes significant sharing of good practice.

Child Protection

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it assesses and meets the needs of children living with substance-abusing parents.

Adam Ingram: Getting it right for every child is at the heart of the Scottish Government’s approach to children affected by parental substance misuse. Under this approach we would expect local authorities, health boards and other community planning partners with a duty to protect children to undertake risk assessment and service provision which is case-sensitive and built around the needs of the individual child.

Child Protection

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether all police, probation and adult drug and alcohol services have clear referral processes that prioritise the protection and wellbeing of children affected by substance-abusing parents.

Adam Ingram: Getting it right for every child is at the heart of the Scottish Government’s approach to children affected by parental substance misuse. Under this approach we expect all community planning partners with a duty to protect children to undertake referral procedures which are case-sensitive and built around the needs of the individual child.

  Within this context, the new Alcohol and Drug Partnerships will work closely together to ensure information on children at risk is captured and children receive effective and timely interventions to guarantee their continued well-being. Under the Getting it right approach, in non-urgent situations where substance misuse raises questions about a child’s well-being, police services have established procedures to record concerns and refer on to local authority social work colleagues and the Children’s Reporter; in urgent situations officers can use statutory provisions to arrange the removal of a child. Probation is delivered by specialist criminal justice social work teams. Criminal justice social work staff are expected to comply with overall arrangements for child protection established by Child Protection Committees within the Getting it right context.

Children's Hearings System

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of animal cruelty were dealt with through the children’s hearings system in each of the last five years.

Adam Ingram: This is a matter for the Scottish Children’s Reporter’s Administration (SCRA). The information requested is not held centrally and is not available from SCRA.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the risk of transmission of the new variant of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease has been eliminated from Scottish blood products.

Shona Robison: As there is currently no test available, the risk of transmission of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease from Scottish blood products remains. In the absence of a test, a range of precautionary measures to minimise the risk of vCJD transmission have been put in place since 1997. Decisions on blood safety are taken by health ministers acting on advice from the Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs (SaBTO). The committee is currently considering a range of options in order to protect the blood supply and further reduce the risk of variant CJD. Research to develop an appropriate test continues.

Energy Efficiency

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what water saving advice will be included in its energy efficiency programme.

Jim Mather: The Energy Saving Trust are currently finalising a pilot through one of the Energy Saving Scotland advice centres to integrate water advice with the existing advice on energy efficiency, microgeneration and low carbon personal transport. This project, which is part of a wider scheme operating in Edinburgh, Cardiff and London, is the first of its kind in the EU and it is being co-funded by the Scottish Government, EU LIFE+ programme and the Department for Energy and Climate Change. The intention is that during the course of the pilot, information and tools will be developed to enable water efficiency advice to be rolled our across the Energy Saving Scotland advice network.

  Scottish Water was awarded £1 million of funding through the Central Energy Efficiency Fund to implement energy saving improvements to their plant, processes and buildings. Scottish Water has made good use of this revolving loan fund and continues to develop innovative project to achieve additional carbon savings.

  In addition, the Energy Saving Trust manages the Energy Saving Scotland Small Business Loans on behalf of the Scottish Government. Water efficiency projects which also resulted in carbon savings are eligible for support through this programme providing the application met the energy saving and other criteria associated with the scheme.

Energy Efficiency

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what water saving measures it intends to include in its energy efficiency programme.

Jim Mather: The Energy Saving Trust are currently finalising a pilot through one of the Energy Saving Scotland advice centres to integrate water advice with the existing advice on energy efficiency, microgeneration and low carbon personal transport. This project, which is part of a wider scheme operating in Edinburgh, Cardiff and London, is the first of its kind in the EU and it is being co-funded by the Scottish Government, EU LIFE+ programme and the Department for Energy and Climate Change. The intention is that during the course of the pilot, information and tools will be developed to enable water efficiency advice to be rolled our across the Energy Saving Scotland advice network.

  Scottish Water was awarded £1 million of funding through the Central Energy Efficiency Fund to implement energy saving improvements to their plant, processes and buildings. Scottish Water has made good use of this revolving loan fund and continues to develop innovative project to achieve additional carbon savings.

  In addition, the Energy Saving Trust manages the Energy Saving Scotland Small Business Loans on behalf of the Scottish Government. Water efficiency projects which also resulted in carbon savings are eligible for support through this programme providing the application met the energy saving and other criteria associated with the scheme.

  Water saving measures for the purpose of reducing carbon emissions will be considered in the development of the Scottish Energy Efficiency Action Plan.

Enterprise

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-21980 by Jim Mather on 27 March 2009, what the outcome was of the Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism’s meeting with Harris tweed stakeholders in Stornoway and what action the Scottish Government plans to take as a result.

Jim Mather: My meeting in Stornoway on 16 April with a wide range of Harris Tweed stakeholders was very fruitful in discussing the way forward for the sector. I welcome the determination and commitment of the industry to come together to share ideas, aspirations and solutions. I understand that they are currently working to finalise the Harris Tweed strategy that was presented at the meeting in draft form.

  Consumer research is one of the key objectives within that strategy. I am pleased to report that the Scottish Enterprise Textiles team has agreed to assist the Harris Tweed Authority with that consumer research – the nature and scope of which is currently being discussed. Scottish Development International also continues to assist the sector with international marketing and promotion. Highlands and Islands Enterprise continues to work with the main producers and supporting them on an individual basis to progress their business development proposals.

First Minister

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what it estimates the cost of the First Minister’s office was in 2008-09.

John Swinney: The total actual cost for the First Minister’s office for 2008-09 was £619,940. The following table shows the comparison of costs over the last three years:

  

 
2006-07
2007-08 
  (Part Year - Previous Administration)
2007-08
  (Part Year - New Administration)
2008-09


First Minister’s Office Costs
£638,356
£73,714
£523,862
£619,940


Total Private Office Costs(including First Minister Office Costs)
£2,901,721
£464,908
£2,031,273
£2,475,412

Healthcare Associated Infection

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS Grampian has an antimicrobial prescribing policy in place; if so, when this was adopted, and how it has been implemented.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Grampian has advised that its antimicrobial prescribing policy was first adopted in 2004 and was last reviewed in March 2009. Adoption and implementation of the revised policy began in March 2009. Implementation is the responsibility of managers at all levels of the organisation. Implementation of NHS Grampian’s revised policy is the subject of on-going audit which is being undertaken in line with guidelines published by the Scottish Antimicrobial Prescribing Group (SAPG).

Healthcare Associated Infection

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what ribotype of Clostridium difficile was identified in the outbreak at Dr Gray’s Hospital in Grampian in April and May 2009.

Nicola Sturgeon: I am advised by NHS Grampian that of the 13 isolates sent to the National Reference Laboratory for typing, eight have been typed as 027; two are 001 cases, one is an 026 case and one other is an 023 case. NHS Grampian is awaiting the results of the one remaining sample.

Healthcare Associated Infection

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the local threshold is that would trigger an investigation into the incidence of Clostridium difficile at NHS Grampian and whether it was applied in the case of the outbreak at Dr Gray’s hospital in April and May 2009.

Nicola Sturgeon: National guidance requires the setting of local trigger thresholds for each clinical area. I am advised by NHS Grampian that an investigation is triggered when two or more cases occur in the same ward area and that this trigger was applied in the recent outbreak at Dr Gray’s Hospital.

Housing

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the housing stock in the Lothians region was affordable housing in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area.

Alex Neil: Information is not recorded in a form which would provide a direct answer to the question.

  The Scottish Government holds information on housing stock by tenure for the period requested. It can be assumed that stock in the local authority and housing association sectors is affordable but information on the stock which is affordable in the owner occupied and private rented sectors varies over time due to the right to buy and economic and other factors. A table is attached showing the Local Authority and Housing Association stock as a proportion of the estimated housing stock in the Lothian region in each financial year since 1999-2000 to 2007-08, broken down by local authority area. Information is not yet available for all sectors for 2008-09.

  Estimated Local Authority and Housing Association (LA and HA) Housing Stock as a Proportion of all Housing Stock

  

Year
All Housing
LA and HA
%


 
City of Edinburgh


1999-2000
214,522
41,856
20%


2000-01
215,332
41,011
19%


2001-02
218,343
40,414
19%


2002-03
218,955
39,713
18%


2003-04
220,608
38,785
18%


2004-05
226,229
38,442
17%


2005-06
226,063
38,369
17%


2006-07
228,142
38,162
17%


2007-08
229,872
37,481
16%


 
East Lothian


1999-2000
38,996
11,723
30%


2000-01
39,234
11,548
29%


2001-02
39,994
11,271
28%


2002-03
40,307
10,870
27%


2003-04
40,433
10,433
26%


2004-05
41,171
10,215
25%


2005-06
42,162
10,026
24%


2006-07
42,876
10,040
23%


2007-08
43,345
10,017
23%


 
Midlothian


1999-2000
33,310
10,482
31%


2000-01
33,508
10,333
31%


2001-02
33,525
10,122
30%


2002-03
33,727
9,865
29%


2003-04
33,906
9,484
28%


2004-05
33,936
9,130
27%


2005-06
34,062
9,050
27%


2006-07
34,340
8,938
26%


2007-08
34,635
8,852
26%


 
West Lothian


1999-2000
65,076
23,277
36%


2000-01
66,414
22,770
34%


2001-02
67,454
22,420
33%


2002-03
69,045
21,698
31%


2003-04
70,046
20,760
30%


2004-05
70,919
20,388
29%


2005-06
71,699
20,122
28%


2006-07
72,749
20,082
28%


2007-08
73,689
19,780
27%



  Sources:

  Local authority: Housing Statistics published information – Council House stock near actual figures.

  Housing association: Scottish Housing Regulator – RSL statistics Table A1b.

  All: Housing Trends in Scotland – number of dwellings on Council Tax register and NB1 and NB2 returns to Scottish Government.

Justice

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the 10 most common offences were for which (a) men and (b) women in Edinburgh were sent to prison in each of the last five years, broken down by age group and number of offences.

Kenny MacAskill: The available information is given in the following tables:

  Number of Males with a Charge Proved1 in Edinburgh Courts, by the 10 Most Common Offences2 Resulting in a Custodial Sentence, by Age Group and Number of Offences, 2003-04 to 2007-08

  

 
Total Males
Under 21
21 to 30
Over 30


2003-04
 
 
 
 


Shoplifting 
220
39
128
53


Common assault 
147
20
62
65


Unlawful use of vehicle 
146
26
59
61


Housebreaking 
125
20
79
26


Breach of the peace 
100
19
37
44


Other theft 
71
17
39
15


Crimes against public justice 
59
8
32
19


Handling an offensive weapon 
56
7
25
24


Serious assault and attempted murder
56
15
30
11


Drugs 
52
5
21
26


2004-05
 
 
 
 


Common assault 
155
41
47
67


Shoplifting 
153
15
97
41


Housebreaking 
110
23
60
27


Unlawful use of vehicle 
107
11
55
41


Breach of the peace 
98
12
29
57


Crimes against public justice 
80
14
24
42


Drugs 
79
7
36
36


Other theft 
66
13
39
14


Handling an offensive weapon 
56
10
27
19


Theft by opening a lockfast place 
44
20
19
5


2005-06
 
 
 
 


Shoplifting 
179
17
93
69


Breach of the peace 
152
16
35
101


Common assault 
140
28
58
54


Unlawful use of vehicle 
105
13
52
40


Housebreaking 
88
27
41
20


Crimes against public justice 
82
10
35
37


Drugs 
78
6
39
33


Other theft 
77
12
48
17


Handling an offensive weapon 
65
13
27
25


Serious assault and attempted murder
35
10
18
7


2006-07
 
 
 
 


Breach of the peace 
171
22
52
97


Common assault 
143
32
57
54


Shoplifting 
133
9
71
53


Housebreaking 
132
38
66
28


Crimes against public justice 
127
24
42
61


Unlawful use of vehicle 
103
14
53
36


Drugs 
79
6
49
24


Handling an offensive weapon 
77
17
35
25


Other theft 
73
7
41
25


Serious assault and attempted murder
46
21
14
11


2007-08
 
 
 
 


Common assault 
151
33
59
59


Breach of the peace 
149
16
49
84


Shoplifting 
133
12
87
34


Housebreaking 
129
31
69
29


Crimes against public justice 
120
28
41
51


Drugs 
90
5
42
43


Unlawful use of vehicle 
78
8
39
31


Other theft 
77
14
42
21


Serious assault and attempted murder
56
23
19
14


Handling an offensive weapon 
53
7
27
19



  Notes:

  1. Where main offence.

  2. Based on standard categories of offences used in Criminal Proceedings in Scottish Courts statistical bulletins.

  Number of Females with a Charge Proved1 in Edinburgh Courts, by the 10 Most Common Offences3 Resulting in a Custodial Sentence, by Age Group and Number of Offences, 2003-04 to 2007-08

  

 
Total Females
Under 21
21 to 30
Over 30


2003-04
 
 
 
 


Shoplifting 
60
6
43
11


Other crimes of dishonesty2
13
2
4
7


Common assault 
13
2
4
7


Other theft 
10
4
5
1


Serious assault and attempted murder
5
3
-
2


Fraud 
5
1
1
3


Crimes against public justice 
5
1
-
4


Breach of the peace 
5
-
2
3


Drugs 
3
1
1
1


Unlawful use of vehicle 
3
-
2
1


2004-05
 
 
 
 


Shoplifting 
30
1
18
11


Common assault 
17
4
8
5


Other theft 
12
3
6
3


Drugs 
11
1
5
5


Crimes against public justice 
7
2
3
2


Breach of the peace 
7
2
3
2


Serious assault and attempted murder
5
2
2
1


Unlawful use of vehicle 
4
-
-
4


Other crimes of dishonesty2
3
1
2
-


Fraud 
2
-
2
-


2005-06
 
 
 
 


Shoplifting 
20
2
12
6


Drugs 
18
1
9
8


Common assault 
13
2
4
7


Breach of the peace 
10
-
2
8


Fraud 
9
-
3
6


Other crimes of dishonesty2
8
-
2
6


Crimes against public justice 
6
1
-
5


Unlawful use of vehicle 
6
-
2
4


Other theft 
4
-
4
-


Handling an offensive weapon 
2
-
1
1


2006-07
 
 
 
 


Shoplifting 
34
1
28
5


Common assault 
23
9
11
3


Breach of the peace 
10
3
5
2


Other theft 
9
1
5
3


Fraud 
9
1
6
2


Drugs 
9
1
4
4


Crimes against public justice 
7
4
1
2


Robbery 
6
4
1
1


Other crimes of dishonesty2
6
-
1
5


Handling an offensive weapon 
3
1
2
-


2007-08
 
 
 
 


Shoplifting 
26
5
10
11


Other theft 
23
8
12
3


Breach of the peace 
17
-
6
11


Crimes against public justice 
13
1
7
5


Drugs 
13
-
7
6


Common assault 
10
-
6
4


Fraud 
9
-
4
5


Robbery 
4
1
3
-


Other crimes of dishonesty2
3
2
-
1


Fire-raising 
3
-
-
3



  Notes:

  1. Where main offence.

  2. Includes currency offences, other criminal conduct, money laundering related offences, insider dealing and proceeds of crime.

  3. Based on standard categories of offences used in Criminal Proceedings in Scottish Courts statistical bulletins.

Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to ask local authorities to report on progress in implementing sections 25 to 31 of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 in current or future rounds of single outcome agreements.

Shona Robison: Guidance for the production of single outcome agreements and annual reporting by Community Planning Partners has been produced jointly by the Scottish Government, COSLA, the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives, the Improvement Service and Audit Scotland. There is no obligation upon Community Planning Partners to set out how they, or individual partners (such as councils), are implementing statutory obligations such as those under the 2003 act, in single outcome agreements or related annual reports.

  The Scottish Government has published additional guidance called With Inclusion in Mind. This sets out practical action that local authorities can take in respect of the new duties outlined in Sections 25 to 31 of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003. The Scottish Government continues to work with local authorities to support implementation. The new duties are also reflected in the Scottish Recovery Indicator which has been developed to assess the degree to which services address rights, social inclusion and recovery and which the Scottish Recovery Network is working with service providers, including local authorities, to implement.

NHS Procurement

Angela Constance (Livingston) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much each NHS board spends on services provided by Vanguard Healthcare, also known as Nuffield Health.

Nicola Sturgeon: This information is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.

Population

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-23376 by John Swinney on 13 May 2009 and notwithstanding the content of that reply, whether it will provide additional information on what impact the net increase in population will have on the provision of services and the likely additional costs.

John Swinney: The government has set a target of matching average European (EU15) population growth over the period 2007 to 2017. The most recent data shows that Scotland’s population is now at its highest level since 1981. Growth has been driven by in-migration.

  There is limited evidence on the overall fiscal consequences of in-migration to Scotland, however, recent studies show that migration has had a positive and growing impact on UK public finances and economic growth. It is, therefore, expected that a positive net increase in Scotland’s population will help the government achieve its purpose of increasing sustainable economic growth.

Scottish Futures Trust

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the value of projects delivered under the Scottish Futures Trust.

John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-23730 on 26 May 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Scottish Government Finance

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the anticipated PFI/PPP debt-servicing commitment is for each local authority department in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11 and (c) 2011-12.

John Swinney: This information is not held centrally.

Teachers

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason teacher numbers are not being maintained at 2007 levels.

Keith Brown: The employment of teachers is a matter for local authorities. The concordat agreement contained sufficient funding for local authorities to maintain teacher numbers at 2007 levels.